Gaming device having symbol revealing mechanism

1. A gaming device comprising: a cabinet; a housing connected to the cabinet; a symbol display connected to said housing, said symbol display including a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of first symbols; a symbol indicator movably connected to said housing, said symbol indicator including a plurality of sections, at least one of said sections including a viewable area, wherein the symbol indicator is positionable in a first position to enable a player to view through said viewable area a first quantity of the reels, said first quantity being at least one, and wherein the symbol indicator is positionable in a second different position to enable the player to view through said viewable area a second quantity of the reels, said second quantity being greater than said first quantity; a processor; and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, after an occurrence of a triggering event: (i) cause the symbol display to display a plurality of the first symbols on the reels, (ii) cause a movement of the symbol indicator, (iii) if, after said movement of the symbol indicator, the symbol indicator is positioned in the first position, determine any award to be provided to the player based on the first symbols displayed on the first quantity of the reels visible through the viewable area, (iv) if, after said movement of the symbol indicator, the symbol indicator is positioned in the second position, determine any award to be provided to the player based on the first symbols displayed on the second quantity of the reels visible through the viewable area, and (v) provide any determined award to the player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1 , which includes a section indicator connected to the housing and positioned adjacent to the symbol indicator to indicate one of the sections of the symbol indicator.

3. The gaming device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of said sections includes a second symbol, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on said second symbol if the section indicator indicates the section including said second symbol.

4. The gaming device of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of said sections include second symbols, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on one of said second symbols if the section indicator indicates the section including said second symbol.

5. The gaming device of claim 2 , wherein each of said sections, except the section including the viewable area, includes one of a plurality of second symbols, wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on the second symbol of one of said sections if the section indicator indicates said section.

6. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the first symbols are different.

7. The gaming device of claim 1 , which includes a payline associated with the symbol display.

8. The gaming device of claim 7 , wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on the payline when the symbol indicator is positioned to display at least one of the reels.

9. The gaming device of claim 1 , which includes a plurality of paylines associated with the symbol display.

10. The gaming device of claim 9 , wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on at least one of the paylines when the symbol indicator is positioned to display at least one of the reels.

11. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the section including the viewable area includes a substantially transparent material.

12. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first symbols is numeric.

13. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first symbols is non-numeric.

14. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the symbol indicator is at least partially spherical.

15. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the viewable area is sized to display all of the reels.

16. A gaming device comprising: a cabinet; a housing connected to the cabinet; a symbol display connected to said housing, said symbol display including a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of first symbols; a symbol indicator movably connected to said housing, said symbol indicator including a plurality of sections, one of said sections including a first viewable area and one of the other of said sections including a second viewable area, wherein the first viewable area is smaller than the second viewable area, wherein the symbol indicator is positionable to enable a player to view a first quantity of the reels through the first viewable area, wherein the symbol indicator is positionable to enable a player to view a second quantity of the reels through the second viewable area, wherein the second quantity is greater than the first quantity; a processor; and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, after an occurrence of a triggering event: (i) cause the symbol display to display a plurality of the first symbols on the reels, (ii) cause a movement of the symbol indicator, (iii) if, after said movement of the symbol indicator, the symbol indicator is positioned to display the section including said first viewable area, determine any award to be provided to the player based on any first symbols displayed on the first quantity of the reels visible through the first viewable area, (iv) if, after said movement of the symbol indicator, the symbol indicator is positioned to display the section including said second viewable area, determine any award to be provided to the player based on any first symbols displayed on the second quantity of the reels visible through the second viewable area, and (v) cause any determined award to be provided the player.

17. The gaming device of claim 16 , which includes a section indicator connected to the housing and positioned adjacent to the symbol indicator to indicate one of the sections of the symbol indicator.

18. The gaming device of claim 17 , wherein at least one of said sections includes a second symbol, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on said second symbol if the section indicator indicates the section including said second symbol.

19. The gaming device of claim 17 , wherein a plurality of said sections include second symbols, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on one of said second symbols if the section indicator indicates one of the sections including one of said second symbols.

20. The gaming device of claim 17 , wherein each of said sections, except the sections including the viewable areas, includes one of a plurality of second symbols, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on the second symbol of said section if the section indicator indicates one of said sections.

21. The gaming device of claim 16 , wherein at least two of the first symbols are different.

22. The gaming device of claim 16 , which includes a payline associated with the symbol display.

23. The gaming device of claim 22 , wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on the payline when the symbol indicator is positioned to display one of the sections including one of the viewable areas.

24. The gaming device of claim 16 , which includes a plurality of paylines associated with the symbol display.

25. The gaming device of claim 24 , wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on at least one of the paylines when the symbol indicator is positioned to display one of the sections including one of the viewable areas.

26. The gaming device of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first symbols is numeric.

27. The gaming device of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first symbols is non-numeric.

28. The gaming device of claim 16 , wherein the symbol indicator is at least partially spherical.

29. The gaming device of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the viewable areas is sized to display all of the reels.

30. A gaming device comprising: a cabinet; a housing connected to the cabinet; a symbol display connected to said housing, said symbol display including a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of first symbols; a symbol indicator movably connected to said housing, said symbol indicator including a plurality of sections, at least two of said sections including viewable areas and at least one of said sections including a modifier, wherein: the symbol indicator is positionable in a first position to indicate one of the sections including one of the viewable areas and enable a player to view, through said one of the viewable areas, a first quantity of the reels, wherein said first quantity is at least one, the symbol indicator is positionable in a second different position to enable the player to view, through said one of the viewable areas, a second quantity of the reels, wherein said second quantity is greater than said first quantity, and the symbol indicator is positionable in a third different position to indicate the section including the modifier; a processor; and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, after an occurrence of a triggering event: (a) cause the symbol display to display a plurality of the first symbols on the reels, (b) cause a movement of the symbol indicator, (c) determine any award to be provided to the player, wherein: (i) if the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including one of said viewable areas and the symbol indicator is in the first position, the award is determined based on the first symbols displayed on the first quantity of the reels visible through said one of the viewable areas, (ii) if the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including one of said viewable areas and the symbol indicator is in the second position, the award is determined based on the first symbols displayed on the second quantity of the reels visible through said one of the viewable areas, and (iii) if the symbol indicator indicates the section including the modifier, the award is determined based on the first symbols on the reels visible through the viewable areas and the modifier; and (d) cause any determined award to be provided the player.

31. The gaming device of claim 30 , which includes a section indicator connected to the housing and positioned adjacent to the symbol indicator to indicate one of the sections of the symbol indicator.

32. The gaming device of claim 31 , wherein at least one of said sections includes a second symbol, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on said second symbol if the symbol indicator indicates one of said sections including said second symbol.

33. The gaming device of claim 31 , wherein a plurality of said sections each include a second symbol, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on one of said second symbols if the symbol indicator indicates one of said sections including the second symbol.

34. The gaming device of claim 31 , wherein each of said sections includes a second symbol, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on said second symbol if the symbol indicator indicates one of said sections including the second symbol.

35. The gaming device of claim 30 , wherein at least two of the first symbols are different.

36. The gaming device of claim 30 , which includes a payline associated with the symbol display.

37. The gaming device of claim 36 , wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on the payline when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including one of the viewable areas.

38. The gaming device of claim 30 , which includes a plurality of paylines associated with the symbol display.

39. The gaming device of claim 38 , wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on at least one of the paylines when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including one of the viewable areas.

40. The gaming device of claim 30 , wherein each of the sections including the viewable areas includes a substantially transparent material.

41. The gaming device of claim 30 , wherein at least one of the first symbols is numeric.

42. The gaming device of claim 30 , wherein at least one of the first symbols is non-numeric.

43. The gaming device of claim 30 , wherein the symbol indicator is at least partially spherical.

44. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising: (a) causing a symbol display including a plurality of reels to display a plurality of first symbols on the reels after a triggering event in a game; (b) causing a movement of a symbol indicator relative to said symbol display, wherein the symbol indicator includes a plurality of sections, at least one of the sections including a viewable area, wherein the symbol indicator is positionable in a first position to enable a player to view, through the viewable area, a first quantity of the reels, the first quantity being at least one, and wherein the symbol indicator is positionable in a second different position to enable the player to view, through the viewable area, a second quantity of the reels, the second quantity being greater than the first quantity; (c) if, after said movement of the symbol indicator, the symbol indicator is positioned in the first position, determining any award to be provided to the player based on the first symbols displayed on the first quantity of the reels visible through the viewable area; (d) if, after said movement of the symbol indicator, the symbol indicator is positioned in the second position, determining any award to be provided to the player based on the first symbols displayed on the second quantity of the reels visible through the viewable area; and (e) causing any determined award to be provided to the player.

45. The method of claim 44 , which includes displaying at least one second symbol on one of the sections, wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on said second symbol when the symbol indicator indicates said one of the sections including said second symbol.

46. The method of claim 44 , which includes displaying a plurality of second symbols on the sections, wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on one of said second symbols when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including said second symbol.

47. The method of claim 44 , which includes displaying a second symbol on each of the sections, wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on said second symbol when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including said second symbol.

48. The method of claim 44 , which includes associating a payline with the symbol display.

49. The method of claim 48 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining the award based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on the payline when the symbol indicator indicates the section including the viewable area.

50. The method of claim 44 , which includes associating a plurality of paylines with the symbol display.

51. The method of claim 50 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining the award based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on at least one of the paylines when the symbol indicator indicates the section including the viewable area.

52. The method of claim 44 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining a sum of the first symbols on the reels visible through the viewable area when the symbol indicator indicates the section including said viewable area.

53. The method of claim 44 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining a product of the first symbols on the reels visible through the viewable area when the symbol indicator indicates the section including said viewable area.

54. The method of claim 44 , which includes indicating at least one of the sections using a section indicator positioned adjacent to the symbol indicator.

55. The method of claim 44 , which includes sizing the viewable area to display all of the reels.

56. The method of claim 44 , which includes operating the gaming device through a data network.

57. The method of claim 56 , wherein the data network is an internet.

58. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising: (a) moving a symbol indicator relative to a symbol display, said symbol display including a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of first symbols, wherein the symbol indicator includes a plurality of sections, at least one of the sections including a viewable area, wherein the symbol indicator is positionable in different positions to enable a player to view through the viewable area: (i) a first quantity of the reels when the symbol indicator is in a first position, wherein the first quantity is at least one; and (ii) a second quantity of the reels when the symbol indicator is in a second different position, wherein the second quantity is greater than the first quantity; (b) causing the symbol display to display a plurality of the first symbols on the reels after a triggering event associated with a game; (c) when the symbol indicator indicates the section including said viewable area and the symbol indicator is in the first position, determining an award to be provided to the player based on the first symbols displayed on the first quantity of the reels visible through the viewable area; (d) when the symbol indicator indicates the section including said viewable area and the symbol indicator is in the second position, determining an award to be provided to the player based on the second quantity of the reels visible through the viewable area; and (e) providing any determined award to the player.

59. The method of claim 58 , which includes displaying at least one second symbol on one of the sections, wherein the award is determined based on said second symbol when the symbol indicator indicates said one of the sections including said second symbol.

60. The method of claim 58 , which includes displaying a plurality of second symbols on the sections, wherein the award is determined based on one of said second symbols when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including said second symbol.

61. The method of claim 58 , which includes displaying a second symbol on each of the sections, wherein the award is determined based on said second symbol when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including said second symbol.

62. The method of claim 58 , which includes associating a payline with the symbol display.

63. The method of claim 62 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining the award based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on the payline when the symbol indicator indicates the section including the viewable area.

64. The method of claim 58 , which includes associating a plurality of paylines with the symbol display.

65. The method of claim 64 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining the award based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on at least one of the paylines when the symbol indicator indicates the section including the viewable area.

66. The method of claim 58 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining a sum of the first symbols on the first quantity or the second quantity of the reels visible through the viewable area when the symbol indicator indicates the section including said viewable area.

67. The method of claim 58 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining a product of the first symbols on the first quantity or the second quantity of the reels visible through the viewable area when the symbol indicator indicates the section including said viewable area.

68. The method of claim 58 , which includes sizing the viewable area to display all of the reels.

69. The method of claim 58 , which includes operating the gaming device through a data network.

70. The method of claim 69 , wherein the data network is an internet.

71. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising: (a) after a triggering event associated with a game, displaying at least one first symbol of a plurality of first symbols on a symbol display to a player, said symbol display including a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of first symbols; (b) moving a symbol indicator relative to said symbol display, wherein the symbol indicator includes a plurality of sections, at least two of said sections including viewable areas and at least one of said sections including a function symbol, wherein the symbol indicator is positionable in different positions to enable the player to view through at least one of the viewable areas: (i) a first quantity of the reels when the symbol indicator is in a first position, wherein the first quantity is at least one, and (ii) a second quantity of the reels when the symbol indicator is in a second different position, wherein the second quantity is greater than the first quantity; (c) when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including one of said viewable areas, determining an award to be provided to the player, wherein: (i) if said symbol indicator is in the first position, the award is determined based on the first symbols displayed on the first quantity of the reels visible through said one of the viewable areas, and (ii) if said symbol indicator is in the second position, the award is determined based on the first symbols displayed on the second quantity of the reels visible through said one of the viewable areas; (d) when the symbol indicator indicates the section including the function symbol, determining an award to be provided to the player based on the first symbols visible through the viewable areas and the function symbol; and (e) causing any determined award to be provided to the player.

72. The method of claim 71 , which includes displaying at least one second symbol on one of the sections, wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on said second symbol when the symbol indicator indicates said one of the sections including said second symbol.

73. The method of claim 71 , which includes displaying a plurality of second symbols on the sections, wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on one of said second symbols when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including said second symbol.

74. The method of claim 71 , which includes displaying a second symbol on each of the sections, wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on said second symbol when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including said second symbol.

75. The method of claim 71 , which includes associating a payline with the symbol display.

76. The method of claim 75 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining the award based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on the payline when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including one of the viewable areas.

77. The method of claim 71 , which includes associating a plurality of paylines with the symbol display.

78. The method of claim 77 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining the award based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on at least one of the paylines when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including one of the viewable areas.

79. The method of claim 71 , wherein, when the symbol indicator indicates one of the sections including one of the viewable areas, determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining a sum of the first symbols on the reels visible through said one of the viewable areas.

80. The method of claim 71 , wherein, when the symbol indicator indicates the section including one of said viewable areas, determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining a product of the first symbols on the reels visible through said one of the viewable areas.

81. The method of claim 71 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining a product of the first symbols on the reels viewable through the viewable areas when the section including the function symbol is indicated by the symbol display, and wherein the function symbol is a multiplier symbol.

82. The method of claim 71 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining a sum of the first symbols on the reels viewable through the viewable areas when the section including the function symbol is indicated by the symbol display, and wherein the function symbol is an addition symbol.

83. The method of claim 71 , wherein determining the award to be provided to the player includes determining a difference of the first symbols on the reels viewable through the viewable areas when the section including the function symbol is indicated by the symbol display, and wherein, the function symbol is a subtraction symbol.

84. The method of claim 71 , which includes operating the gaming device through a data network.

85. The method of claim 84 , wherein the data network is an internet.

86. A gaming device comprising: a cabinet; a housing connected to the cabinet; a symbol display connected to said housing, said symbol display including a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of first symbols; a symbol indicator movably connected to said housing, said symbol indicator including a plurality of sections, at least one of said sections including a plurality of viewable areas, wherein the symbol indicator is positionable to enable a player to view through each of the viewable areas: (i) a first quantity of the reels, or (ii) a second quantity of the reels, wherein the second quantity is greater than the first quantity, a processor; and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, after an occurrence of a triggering event: (i) cause the symbol display to display a plurality of the first symbols on the reels, (ii) cause a movement of the symbol indicator, (iii) determine an award to be provided to the player, wherein: (A) if the section indicator indicates the section including the plurality of viewable areas and the section indicator is positioned such that the first quantity of the reels is visible through each of the viewable areas, the award is determined based on the first symbols displayed on the first quantity of the reels visible through the viewable areas, and (B) if the section indicator indicates the section including the plurality of viewable areas and the section indicator is positioned such that the second quantity of the reels is visible through each of the viewable areas, determine an award to be provided to the player based on first symbols displayed on the second quantity of the reels visible through the viewable areas, and (iv) cause any determined award to be provided to the player.

87. The gaming device of claim 86 , wherein the section including the plurality of viewable areas includes at least one modifier.

88. The gaming device of claim 86 , which includes a section indicator connected to the housing and positioned adjacent to the symbol indicator to indicate one of the sections of the symbol indicator.

89. The gaming device of claim 88 , wherein at least one of said sections includes a second symbol, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on said second symbol if the section indicator indicates one of the sections including said second symbol.

90. The gaming device of claim 88 , wherein a plurality of said sections include second symbols, and wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on one of said second symbols if the section indicator indicates one of the sections including one of said second symbols.

91. The gaming device of claim 88 , wherein each of said sections, except the section including the viewable areas, includes one of a plurality of second symbols, and wherein, if the section indicator indicates one of said sections including one of the second symbols, the award to be provided to the player is determined based on the second symbol of said section.

92. The gaming device of claim 86 , wherein at least two of the first symbols are different.

93. The gaming device of claim 86 , which includes a payline associated with the symbol display.

94. The gaming device of claim 93 , wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on the payline when the symbol indicator is positioned to display the section including the viewable areas.

95. The gaming device of claim 86 , which includes a plurality of paylines associated with the symbol display.

96. The gaming device of claim 95 , wherein the award to be provided to the player is determined based on at least one of the first symbols occurring on at least one of the paylines when the symbol indicator is positioned to display the section including the viewable areas.

97. The gaming device of claim 86 , wherein at least one of the first symbols is numeric.

98. The gaming device of claim 86 , wherein at least one of the first symbols is non-numeric.

99. The gaming device of claim 94 , wherein the symbol display is at least partially spherical.

100. The gaming device of claim 86 , wherein the viewable areas are sized to display all of the reels.

101. The gaming device of claim 86 , wherein the first quantity of reels is greater than one.

102. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising: (a) moving a symbol indicator relative to a symbol display, said symbol display including a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of first symbols, wherein the symbol indicator includes a plurality of sections, at least one of the sections including a plurality of viewable areas, wherein the symbol indicator is positionable to enable a player to view through each of the viewable areas: (i) a first quantity of the reels, or (ii) a second quantity of the reels, wherein the second quantity is greater than the first quantity; (b) after a triggering event associated with a game, if the symbol indicator indicates the sections including the plurality of viewable areas, causing the symbol display to display a plurality of the first symbols on the reels visible through each of the viewable areas of said section; (c) if the symbol indicator indicates the section including said plurality of viewable areas and the first quantity of the reels is visible through each of said viewable areas, determining an award to be provided to the player based on the first symbols displayed on the first quantity of the reels, (d) if the symbol indicator indicates the section including said plurality of viewable areas and the second quantity of the reels is visible through each of said viewable areas, determining the award to be provided to the player based on the first symbols displayed on the second quantity of the reels; and (e) providing any determined award to the player.

103. The method of claim 102 , which includes associating a section indicator with the symbol indicator to indicate one of the sections of the symbol indicator.

104. The method of claim 102 , which includes associating at least one modifier with the viewable areas.

105. The method of claim 104 , which includes determining the award to be provided to the player based on a product of the first symbols displayed on each of the reels visible through the viewable areas when the modifier is a multiplier.

106. The method of claim 104 , which includes determining the award to be provided to the player based on a sum of the first symbols displayed on each of the reels visible through the viewable areas when the modifier is an addition symbol.

107. The method of claim 102 , wherein the first quantity of the reels is greater than one.

108. The method of claim 102 , which includes operating the gaming device through a data network.

109. The method of claim 108 , wherein the data network is an internet.